Blogs

Back in February at the Scouting combine the idea was first floated of the NFL changing up its offseason schedule. Today it sounds like that’s a lot closer to happening. Adam Shefter first reported a 2014 draft that would take place in May. That really isn’t a shock. To move the TV-ratings-rich draft into the sweeps month of May makes sense. The report is that, come 2015, the new league year (i.e. free agency) would then start before the combine (with the combine getting moved into March). It makes sense — the NFLPA could gain by getting free agency sooner. Veteran movement would be going on for a couple of weeks before the rookies even have their workout-day-in-the-sun.

What does this mean, football-wise? Besides the shift in when fans will be consuming this stuff, it definitely will make it harder on rookies — or better for veterans, depending on how you look at it. Vets will in theory know their teams sooner, and more importantly, rookies will be drafted perhaps three weeks later than they are now and getting started with their teams late much later. Certainly, it can be overcome (and if you are a Stanford product, it actually can help.) It should be noted that NFL spokesman Greg Aiello cautioned that nothing has been done yet. I won’t be surprised if (when?) it does though, and the NFL will be spread out even further into the offseason.

— Linebacker Daryl Washington pleaded not guilty today on the two counts of aggravated assault stemming from a May 1 incident. His next court date is scheduled for July 3. Before you ask, nothing has been decided yet and nothing has changed for Washington in terms of football.

5 Responses
to “Moving the draft later”

I think it will be for the better. D-Wash I hope is found not guilty if he didn’t do those things, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because we all should until the verdict comes. I got my Texas boy’s back.

on sports radio this morning, someone at NFL said now with the change to college football with the new Playoff format, that the college season could be 2 – 3 weeks longer. There was some concern that players would opt-out of the Combine and just do their local college pro work out day. By moving both the Combine and the Draft back, it would give these players a chance to regroup and get ready for the later Combine and Draft. NFL will need to re-work with CBA the change of the “League Year”, but NFL can sell it as it would be better for the veterans as they would be looking at teams before the Draft, not after. Teams would then reschedule their OTS’s, later in the spring, after the new Draft date in May.